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Releases
& Statements
**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **
May 28, 2008
Contact: Sarah Krauss
(212) 669-4193; (917) 541-0936
PA Gotbaum Letter to Chancellor Klein on Pre-K Enrollment Problems
Public Advocate Gotbaum today sent a letter to Chancellor Klein
regarding problems many parents are facing with the new enrollment
process for pre-Kindergarten children. Parents are expressing concern
that determinations for enrollment are not being made according to the
guidelines the Department of Education set out.
The Public Advocate is calling on the DOE to immediately address
parents' concerns and make sure that parents have access to the
information they need. See below or click here for the full text of the letter.
Dear Chancellor Klein:
I have heard from parents of pre-kindergarten children that the newly
revised enrollment process has created chaos and confusion and parents
remain in the dark about what school their children will attend this
coming fall.
I'm calling on you and the Department of Education to immediately
address the complaints and concerns of every parent who did not have
their child placed in a school of their choice, a school in their zone,
or a school that a sibling attends. I would also like you to provide me
with details on your process for addressing these complaints and
concerns.
This problem arose over the past weekend when parents across the city
received letters alerting them to the pre-k program that their child
would begin in September. Unfortunately, it seems, many parents received
letters telling them that none of their choice programs were available.
Parents who have called my office and others are concerned that
determinations for enrollment are not being made according to the
guidelines the DOE set out.
For example, it appears that pre-k children were rejected from the
programs attended by their siblings, even though they are supposed to be
given first priority in the new process. Furthermore, it's a well-known
fact that when parents rent or buy apartments they consider the quality
of neighborhood schools to which they will send their children. If zoned
schools are no longer a given in New York real estate, it is your job to
adequately inform parents.
Furthermore, according to parents, the rejection letter they received
was unclear and did not give information about next steps. The failure
to properly communicate changes to pre-k has plagued the new program
since the very start.
I am troubled by these early indications of problems in the new
enrollment system, as I am sure you are too. In fact, the current
situation seems reminiscent of the glitches that occurred in the first
year of the new high school enrollment process, which sent parents
scrambling and left thousands of kids anxious. We can't afford to let
the same happen to four-year-olds.
I have instructed my office to work with the DOE to help resolve
complaints for the parents who contact my office. But, you must go a
step further and reach out to all the parents who did not receive a
placement and work with them to find a proper school for their children.
For many parents this may be their first contact with the schools and
they may not know where to turn. You need to guide them.
I look forward to your prompt resolution to this problem and response to
my inquiry.
Sincerely,
Betsy Gotbaum
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